If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Sagging Ridge Line

I recently started using a Continuous Ridge Line (CRL) on my tarp. This weekend I was hanging between a couple of trees, one of which was kinda thin. It tended to move a little towards me when I got into my hammock. It was easy to adjust the hammock's suspension to accommodate the 4-6" change in distance between the trees, but this change made my tarp's CRL sag. Has anyone else experienced this, and how did you fix it? (aside from finding different trees to hang from)

If small trees are the only thing available, run another line down from the thin tree out to the ground or base of another tree/bush at an angle. This will stabilize the main tree from bending under load. The longer the angle the better. You'll need to carry a 10 or 20 foot length of suitable line for this work, but it can be done.

Interesting, I suppose the obvious thing to say would be not to use a tree which will move and shorten the ridgeline distance, but we already know that. I like the idea of using shockcord, maybe if the tarp gets wet though it won't be strong enough to hold up the extra weight ?
What if you took a longer ridgeline over a crook in a branch and then down to the ground, that way you wouldn't lose any height or distance, the tree would just act as a prop.

here is some pictures of some simple shock cord tensioners.
one pulled completely tight the other taking up some slack.
notice they are backed up by the cord itself ... so if they were to break it is backed up.